Between May and June, and sometimes even a few months earlier, high school and college students enter their graduation season – a proud moment reflecting years of hard work, extracurricular activities, and countless exams and assignments. It’s a time of pure excitement, high hope, and dignity, but for many, it’s also a time of uncertainty and questioning.
The main question I find people asking themselves, or even struggling to answer, at this time is, “What comes next?” You’ve done the work, you’ve gotten the diploma/degree, but what now? Let me start by saying that if you haven’t yet developed a response for this question, there’s nothing wrong with that. As I’ve come to learn for myself – and have written about on this platform – life isn’t linear, and there’s no rule that your journey must be perfect.
So, don’t put extra pressure on yourself if you don’t have all your ducks in a row….I’m confident that you’ll figure things out eventually.
For those who are more eager to figure it out sooner rather than later, there are steps you can take on your journeys ahead that may help you figure out your “what’s next.” Those steps look a little different for high school and college graduates, so I’ll break things up a little.
To the high school graduates:
Congratulations! High school can be very rough, and making it across the finish line is admirable. You should be proud.
Statistically, many of you will go on to do a 2-year or 4-year program at college, while others of you might study a trade or jump straight into the workforce. If you’re doing the latter, good for you! This path allows many people to figure out their passions and can lead to spontaneous opportunities. Be open, be mindful, and be vigilant as you use this chance to learn more about yourself. In this stage, you’re crossing a bridge, so enjoy the stroll.
Now, for those who will go the more traditional route with college, please make the most of this opportunity. You will only have a short while before you decide on your major. It may be tempting to choose random, easy electives for the sake of it, but try to be intentional about every decision you make and every class you take. Quite frankly, intentionality and dedication to all your collegial commitments are the keys to having an enriching college experience.
My biggest encouragement is to make strong relationships, especially with professors, department heads, and other academics. These people usually have great advice and even greater connections to associations and other professionals that can help shape your post-college career. Also, do the extracurricular activities, whether it’s the school’s newspaper or student government – whatever group piques your interest, join it. And if you can, join the board of these clubs, as such leadership roles can be a great reflection of your character and work ethic on your resume when you’re job hunting down the line.
There are times when trying to juggle all of these things may become overwhelming. Don’t be afraid to use resources available on your campus (or online) that are designed to help you. There’s no need to take this journey alone…there’s help at every turn.
These are small tips, but they will ensure a seamless journey.
To college graduates:
Now, for my college graduates, the “what next” question may seem more looming for you, because, honestly, college can offer a safety net that shields us from the reality of life for a few years. Now that the net is gone, you may feel strong levels of uncertainty, especially since the level of unemployment in the U.S. has exponentially risen recently.
I hope that you’d find a job in line with your career choice, and that you’d climb the ladder to get to your desired destination. However, if things don’t work that way for you, I encourage you to sow seeds somewhere else. There’s nothing wrong with having a “filler” job while you wait for your big break. Don’t allow pride to hold you back from keeping your head above water. Keep reaching for your dream gig, and eventually, something will give.
Also, don’t be afraid to contact former people in your network. You never know who has a connection to what organization or professional.
If there’s anything you should take away from this piece, it’s that you may not always have an answer to the “what next” question, and that’s fine. What’s important is that you never stop searching until you find the answer to that question.
Recently, I attended my sister’s college graduation, and the commencement speaker reminded the audience that failure does not mean it’s the end of the road – it means lessons learned and new ideas that can help you cross the road and finish the race you’ve started. It’s advice I would share with anyone, especially recent graduates, as they begin to navigate their next phase of life.
So go out there and make the best of the cards you’ve been dealt. I hope my advice will be helpful as you start this new phase of life. And once again, congratulations, class of 2026.
~Shanaé H.
